Trade barriers are government-imposed restrictions on international trade. They include tariffs, import quotas, subsidies, and regulatory measures that protect domestic industries while reducing the efficiency of global trade.
What Are Trade Barriers? Trade barriers are government policies, regulations, or practices that restrict the free flow of goods and services between countries. While they are often justified on grounds of protecting domestic industries, national security, or public health, economists generally regard most trade barriers as economically inefficient — benefiting protected industries at the expense of consumers and the broader economy. Understanding trade barriers is fundamental to understanding in